Door-cupboard and tray



Feb. 22, 1949. o. C. HANDEL 2,462,743

DOOR- CUPBOARD AND TRAY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 12, 1946 Q INVENTOR. 95092 C. HQNDEL 0. C. HANDEL DOOR-CUPBOARD AND TRAY Feb. 22, 1949.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 12, 1946 zlwua/rwc b 0564 C. HANDEL Patented Feb. 22, 1949 UNITED STATES OFFICE nooa-curnoann AND TRAY Oscar C. Handel, Kansas City, Kans. Application June 12, 1946, Serial No. 676,211

3 Claims. 1

My present. invention relates generally to domestic refrigerators, ice boxes, and similar refrigerating appliances, and more particularly to a novel built-in door-cupboard and tray forming a component part of the main door of an appliance of this type,

While my invention contemplates physical embodiments for various purposes and uses, it is especially designed and adapted as liquid cooler and service tray, and as hereinafter disclosed and illustrated the invention is embodied in a water cooler, and tray for dispensing and serving glasses of cooled water.

In carrying out my invention I equip the usual door of a domestic refrigeratorwith a built-in cupboard, compartment, or cabinet, and a suitable type of water cooler, and the hinged panel of the cupboard forms a closure that is provided with the serving and dispensing tray, which elements are compactly arranged and combined for convenience and accessibility, and as an attractive accessory for the domestic refrigerator.

The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements involving these component parts as will hereinafter be more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention wherein the parts are combined according to one mode I have thus far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention, but it will be understood that changes and alterations may be made and are contemplated in these exemplifying drawings and mechanical structures, within the scope of my claims without departing from the principles of the invention.

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a refrigerator door illustrating the embodiment of my invention, with the cupboard open and the tray in dispensing position.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the tray and panel in Fig. 1, showing the refrigerator door and the water cooler in horizontal section.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 1, with the panel closed and the tray suspended on the panel within the cupboard.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing in detail one of the stops or holders for the open panel.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view, partly in section, of the water cooler and faucet,

Figure 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary view partly in section, of the panel and tray.

In the assembly views, and for convenience of '2 illustration I have disclosed a portion of a refrigerator'door D, having the usual inner metallic lining I and exterior face plate 2, and a water cooler or tank W of suitable type is supported upon a bracket B attached to the inner face of the hinged door.

A detachable fastening for the cooler or tank is shown as an enclosing band 3 that is fastened at I to the inner face of the door D, and a faucet 5 of the cooler projects outwardly through an orifice 5 in the inner lining of the door, where it is readily accessible under proper conditions.

The faucet orifice 6 opens into a recess 1 that forms the cupboard within the door, and the cupboard is of appropriate size and shape for the reception and accommodation of the dispensing and service tray; a front opening 8 being provided in the plate 2 to give ready access to the interior of the cupboard.

The cupboard, cabinet, or recess may be closed by a front metallic panel or plate 9 conforming to the contour of the opening 8, and the panel is hinged horizontally along its lower edge 10 to the front face plate 2. The hinged closure or panel is preferably fashioned with an extension or tongue ll located within the recess or cupboard 1, which tongue is adapted to close in and occupy a recess l2 in the inner face of the front plate 2. This extension or tongue provides a support for the panel when the panel is closed, and it insures an airtight vhinge joint for the panel, as well as'forming a stop for the closure. The panel 9 and the complementary walls of the opening 8 may be provided with heat insulating strips or cushions, and a push-button. fastener I3 is provided on the door D for engagement and co-action with a hasp or keeper l4 attached at the inner side of the top, semi-circular edge of the hinged panel, to latch the panel in closed position of Fig. 3.

In the open horizontal position of Figs. 1 and 2 the hinged panel is stabilized by means of a pair of oppositely arranged supporting brackets, one at each end of the hinge joint I0, and as best seen in Fig. 4 each metallic bracket includes an attachment flange l5 fixed by screws upon the panel, and two angular plates l6 and H, the former fitting neatly against an edge of the front plate 2 of the door to prevent lateral movement of the panel, while the latter contacts with the inner face of the plate 2 to form a substantial stop and support for limiting the opening movement of the panel.

The panel forms a support for the rotatable dispensing and serving tray l8, which is shown in Fig. 2 as of circular shape, and provided with a center aperture or socket f9 that fits neatly over a stud or pin 20 fixed at the approximate center of the panel. For supporting the tray while in dispensing position on the panel, as well as for supporting the tray upon a serving table, a series of spaced bearing balls or ball-casters 2| are mounted in housings 22 attached at the underside of the tray for a rolling contact with a supporting object.

At the outer edge of the circular tray I provide a pair of diametrically arranged loop-handles 23, and partially rotatable hooks 24 are mounted on the panel for detachable engagement with the handles for retaining or holding the tray securely on the panel regardless of the position occupied by the hinged panel and the tra mounted thereon.

The tray is fashioned with an annular series of sockets, seats, or receptacles 25 having cross arms or straps 26 for supporting water glasses, one of which is shown at 21 in Fig. 1, and the glasses are arranged on the tray in order that the tray may be rotated to successively bringa number of glasses to be filled under the faucet 5.

For dispensing a single glass of water, or a succession of glasses of water, with, the panel and tray turned to open position of Figs. 1 and 2, the empty glass with the tray is turned to position under the faucet for filling, and the filled glass may be picked up and handled as usual.

When the tray is employed for serving purposes, the glasses are successively filled, the two handles are grasped, and the tray may readily be removed from the panel, and conveyed to a serving table, or the glasses of water may be served directly from the tray to guests.

When not required for use, or after service, the tray is replaced on the panel and fastened thereto by the hooks 24 and handles 23, then the panel is swung upwardly to closed position, and secured by the fasteners l3-H heretofore described.

- Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A refrigerator door having a built-in cupboard and an opening in the exterior face of the vertical front wall of the door to gain access to said cupboard, a panel shaped closure for the opening hinged along an edge of the opening, a

recess on the inner surface of the front wall of the door below said opening, a rearwardly ex-' tending tongue on said closure adapted to fit into said recess when the closure is in closed position, detachable means for fastening the closure in closed position and a dispensing tray rotatably mounted on the closure, and detachable retaining means mounted for coaction on the tray and closure, and a pair of stop brackets mounted on the closure for coaction with the front wall of the door when the closure is in open position. i v

2. The invention as in claim 1, wherein a pair of handles are fixed on the tray and anti-friction bearings are mounted on the tray for contact .with the closure.

3. The invention as in claim 1, wherein a center-steel is mounted on the closure and said tray is provided with a bearingopening so that said tray is rotatably mounted on said closure, and anti-friction bearings are mounted on the tray for rotary contact of the tray with the closure.

OSCAR C. HANDEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Taylor Oct. 1, 1946 

